Leading the (arguably) best ‘regular’ parade Walt Disney World has to offer, the SpectroMen and SpectroTrumpeters have haunted the memories of young children and many adults for years in the night-time extravaganza SpectroMagic. It wasn’t too long ago that they got their last makeover in late 2007, shedding the masks in favor of faces and fibery-opticky multi-colored hair.

A vibrant and festive atmosphere abounds with the spirited sounds of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee,” a new, live musical production that takes place on board the “Liberty Belle” riverboat in the Magic Kingdom. The 15-minute performance features an energetic cast of musicians and singers, as well as characters from the Walt Disney Pictures’ animated film, “The Princess and the Frog.” The limited-engagement show will be presented in the Magic Kingdom from Oct. 26, 2009 to Jan. 3, 2010. (Gene Duncan, photographer)

The R&B group “Boys II Men” (L-R): Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris, poses with Princess Tiana Oct. 26, 2009 at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Princess Tiana, featured in the Walt Disney Pictures animated film “The Princess and the Frog,” also made her debut at the theme park the same day. (Garth Vaughan, photographer)

Besides meet-and-greets with guests, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture will star in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a rousing, colorful procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Magic Kingdom guests to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock.

The party moves onboard and the Liberty Belle paddlewheels her way along the river with singing and dancing to the sounds of a six-member jazz band. Nearly two dozen Disney dancers join 30 randomly chosen park guests to be part of each show. Original songs composed by Randy Newman for the film liven the production, which will be performed three times daily. Daytime pyrotechnics and whimsical puppetry round out the spirited, 15-minute production.

The 10-week experience at Walt Disney World Resort will run through Jan. 3, 2010. “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” also will dazzle guests at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Nov. 6.

A hilarious movie adventure through the mystical bayous of Louisiana, “The Princess and the Frog” will open in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on Nov. 25, 2009, before expanding nationwide on Dec. 11, 2009.

Authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson will be offering a signing of their new book Peter and the Sword of Mercy at Walt Disney World on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14.

On November 13, they’ll be at Once Upon a Toy located at Downtown Disney’s Marketplace from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm; on November 14, they’ll be in the Magic Kingdom at the Main Street Gallery on Main Street, USA from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. There will also be an early appearance on Saturday by Ridley Pearson only from 9 am – 10 am at the Main Street Gallery.

Walt Disney World is now accepting general requests to attend the taping of the 2009 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. As expected, taping will take place during the first weekend of December, but this year, taping will also occur on the Thursday before, making the taping a total of three days, December 3 – 5. Thursday and Friday will consist of performance tapings at Cinderella Castle and in the Main Street USA area while Saturday will be the parade itself (which may also contain additional performances at select locations along the parade route). Guests may opt to choose 1, 2 or all 3 days at time of registration.

As we first reported back in early September, Terence has joined Pixie Hollow at the Magic Kingdom in honor of the upcoming release of Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure. Today we get our first look of Terence courtesy of the Disney Parks blog.

If he hasn’t already, he should also be making his way to Pixie Hollow’s counterpart at Disneyland.

Via its YouTube channel, DisneyParks released a seven minute video which takes a look at some of the recent additions to the Walt Disney World resort such as the American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It street show at the Magic Kingdom as well as an extended look at the Contemporary Resort, from its design and construction in 1971 through the introduction of the Bay Lake Tower DVC resort and the Treehouse Villas.

Via its new blog, Walt Disney World has announced that it is participating in a pilot program to enter US $1 coins into circulation from retail and dining locations in Epcot’s American Adventure and Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square.

Quoting it as a move towards the Disney-coined environmentality iniative, the coins will be distributed in lieu of ‘paper’ dollar bills as change.